Part I  Teacher Presentation;  What is a System

Overheads:  (on web)
Essential Question:   What is meant by a systems approach to Earth science?

Mouse:    System or part of a system?   Get a mouse

Brainstorm:  What are examples of systems?

Definition of  system -  The ability to think about a whole in terms of its parts, and how these parts relate to each other and the whole.  What are the inputs and outputs and the interactions among the system components?

Group Discussion:
Materials:  System examples,  System Questions,  Lg sheet of paper,  markers
Answer the Questions About Systems for your assigned system and prepare to present to the class.

stereo system              ecosystem
solar system                circulatory system
computer system        bicycle
Part II  Teacher Presentation
Overheads:   (On the web)
Graphically representing systems
Symbols used to represent the components of a  Box Model
A box is used to symbolize a source of matter or energy or a sink into which matter or energy flows.
An arrow is used to symbolize the connection and direction between a source and a sink
A circle symbolized a condition or factor that will affect the system.
Example of a Box Model:  Soil being warmed by the Sun.
 

Group Discussion:
Materials:  Reading:  The Global Water Cycle,  scrap paper,  lg sheet of paper, colored markers
Create a Box Model of the Global Water Cycle
1.  The Name of the system
2.  Label the sources and sinks
3.  Label the flow between the srouces and sinks and the direction of the flow
4.  Label the approximate percentages of the flows.

Handout:
Vocabulary for Systems               Name  _____________________

System  -
 

components -
 

subsystem -
 

input  -
 

output  -
 

Box Model  -
 
 

Sink  -
 

boundary -
 

box (in a Box Model)  -
 

arrow (in a Box Model)  -
 

circle (in a Box Model)  -